“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive.”

~ James Baldwin

I love books (almost) more than anything in life—from a very young age, to this climbing-closer-to-forty of recent days, books have always been central to each breath I take.

I came by this love honestly—my parents both avid readers—and some of my favorite memories include weekend afternoons and evenings, each of us with a book nestled into our hands, happily settled into our own worlds, the quiet hum of companionship as the pages flip—and of course, our last-minute pre-Christmas trips to the bookstore.

We would each choose a (reasonable) pile of books, which we traded at the cash register, took home and wrapped for each other—and then eagerly awaited Christmas morning, when we would open our packages of joy, curling up after brunch, with full bellies, a glass of something bubbly and magic preparing to open before us.

Each book, each story, has a place in my heart. Each book, each story, has helped me to find company, wisdom and the knowing that I am not alone in this world, no matter if I am up or if I am down.

Recently, so caught up in the busy, I noticed that I has having a difficult time keeping my attention in a book that I had started reading around the holidays. The days have been so long and so full, my body ready for sleep the moment before my head hit the pillow—I was lucky to get through one paragraph, let alone one page, of Jeanette Winterson’s Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?

And so, I made myself a promise—that this year, I would commit to reading one book a month.

Not two, not ten—just one. There would be no competition as the months passed to read more than the previous month—I could save that for next year, maybe—and I wouldn’t, as I had done in the past, rope my friend Rebekah into a reading competition with me (which we did for some time, fiercely maintaing a blog to talk about the books we read).

No. This year, one book a month.

A commitment to myself and my imagination. A way to honor myself—a way to strengthen my personal integrity.

One chilly late afternoon, my love and I trekked downtown, stopping in at the bookstore to use a gift card we received at Christmas, before going to see The Hobbit (which I still haven’t read).

About Bryonie Wise

Bryonie’s life is rooted in the belief that when we come from a place of love, anything is possible. When not teaching yoga or writing her heart to the bone, she can be found frolicking in the sunshine with her camera and her dog, Winston, living her yoga. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Love this. Did you ever see the post I did about the books you've been too busy to read? Just finished re-reading Cloud Atlas, so I think for February… hmm. I have the Game of Thrones series & haven't started yet, but think I want to stay with David Mitchell a little longer and read Number9Dream or The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

p.s. How how HOW have you not ever read The Hobbit? I am sending you a copy tomorrow! xo

Ha…I think I was too busy to read it but I'm going to look for it now. Cloud Atlas is in my pile, but just picked up Quiet and In One Person by John Irving as February back ups.

P.S.: I know…mortified to admit that publicly…but I have read the entire Chronicles of Narnia series more times then I count…and a few others. I don't know how The Hobbit never crossed my path! (Blushing, profusely!) xo

Night Circus is my vote Kate. I couldn’t put it down. B, if you haven’t eaten Murakami’s 1Q84 yet, I stand behind it with everything. Me and the tattooed midget collaborative thought he peaked at Wind Up Bird Chronicle, and happily, we were wrong as fuchsia sneakers.

yes, reading is cool, fun, stimulating and exciting! also helps one to be a better writer.
so many books, so little time! and storage units are full of them, some of the hardest things to let go of.
great photo stream too…read on everyone

Fellow word nerd here, I've had a love affair with reading since I can remember. Retreating with a good book to escape the noise and chatter of the world, there's nothing like it. As a busy mom, I mourn the free time that no longer exists but the moments of reading to my boys are sacred. Thank you so much for sharing your love of books, I too will cherish and celebrate the beauty of the written word always! I'm in the middle of reading 'Guruji' and then I'm determined to read 'Quiet', and the list goes on and on….

Love this post! I am also a fellow book nerd and read at least a book a week! I must be addicted but living in the mountains on cold winter days, there is nothing better than a book, tea and a warm fire. Lovely images and sexy.